Chelsea 3 - Bolton 0: Frank Lampard does it his way

Frank Lampard kisses the badge after scoring his 150th Premier League goal

For sure. They were two different games

Andre Villas-Boas

He claimed he had not got it wrong in axing stalwarts Frank Lampard, Michael Essien and Ashley Cole from his line-up in Naples four days earlier.

The trio returned to help batter Bolton, with Lampard looking like his old self and Essien back to his Beast in midfield.

Asked if he still felt he had been right to leave out the experienced stars for the 3-1 Champions League defeat against Napoli, Villas-Boas said: “For sure. They were two different games.”

Sinatra, of course, made My Way famous and when it came to singing at Stamford Bridge, there was only one name on supporters’ lips – Lampard.

They chorused the “Super Frankie Lampard” song over and over and gave him a standing ova- tion as he took one corner. Fans have yet to come up with a song for Villas-Boas.

But Villas-Boas insisted their adoration of England star Lampard would not influence him when it came to team selection.

“First of all, it is not related, because they sing his name all the time,” he added. “I take no instructions from anybody.”

Well, that might be dis- puted for it was hard not to suspect owner Roman Abramovich may have had a big say in Lampard and Co. being restored to the line-up, having demanded to know after Naples why they wereomitted.

Lampard could not hide the truth, admitting all was not A-OK with AVB.

It has been widely reported that Lamps has not enjoyed being switched on and off by the Portuguese coach, who is just 16 months his senior.

“People have seen from the outside that it’s not been ideal,” he said. “There have been certain issues. You don’t like not playing. I just want to play and when I play I know I can contribute.”

Lampard scored the third and delivered the corner for Didier Drogba to get the second after David Luiz had given the Blues the lead.

Lampard’s late goal took him to third in the Chelsea charts for top-flight goals with 125, overtaking Jimmy Greaves.

At Stamford Bridge it was a case of Saint and Greavesie as Lampard is revered that much by fans.

It was also his 150th Premier League goal and ensured a ninth consecutive season of double figures in the competition.

Asked if he felt Lampard would still be breaking records in west London, Villas-Boas said: “I hope so. It does not depend on me. It depends on three parts – I want him, the person wants to stay and the club wants him.”

Bolton boss Owen Coyle was very upbeat despite this latest setback, with Premier League survival all that is on his mind.

“We play Man City next week and after that we’ll have played seven of the top eight twice this season – the elite clubs – so we know there are winnable games after that,” said the Scot.

“We know our fate is in our own hands. We have good enough, young enough players to address that and that’s what we’ll focus on.

“As we showed when we beat Liverpool and drew with Arsenal, we have players capable of winning games against big clubs, never mind against clubs in our own area of the league.

“There’ll be a time for soul-searching if we don’t do our job but we believe we have enough ability and quality to stay in the Premier League.

“Don’t forget that I came to Bolton when they were bottom of the league two year ago so it’s nothing new for us to be in that area of the league and have to address it. That’s what we’re going to do.